Tucking and folding mechanism for wrapping machines



Sept. 25, 1945. c. ARELT.

TUCKING AND FOLDING ME CHANISM FOR WRAPPING MACHINES Fil ed Feb. 3/19433 Sheets-Sheet 1 C- ARELT Sept. 25, 1945.

TUCKING AND FOLDING MECHANISM FOR WRAPPING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Feb. 5, 1945 ATTORNEY Alli! ll .ll II I N DE C. ARELT Sept. 25,1945.

TUCKING AND FOLDING MECHANISM FOR WRAPPING MACHINES .3 Sheets-Sheet 3QwN 1.1

R A Y 0% h E Tflr N mi m WM n I w/ CW Patented Sept. 25; 1945 TUCKIYNGAND FOLDING MECHANISM FOR WRAPPING MACHINES Charles Arelt, RichmondHill, N. Y., assignor to American Machine and Foundry Company, acorporation of New Jersey Application February 3, 1943, Serial No.474,528

' 25 Claims. (Cl. 93-2) This invention relates to wrapping machinessuitable for wrapping any article, such as bread. and consists chieflyin improvements in the mechanism for folding the wrapper about sucharticles especially insofar as it concerns'the formation of the initialwrapper folds about each article.

The subject matter of this invention relates primarily to wrappingmachines of the general type shown in Schmitt Patent No. 1,851,295,granted March 21, 1932, in which articles being wrapped are movedagainst a draped wrapper onto a lifter table, raised and transportedthrough the machine, although the mechanism shown and described isreadily adaptable for use in other types of wrapping machines.

In this type of machine the first end folds or tucks are usually made asthe article, such as a loaf of bread, either is moved by means of aninfeed conveyor against a draped wrapper onto a lifter table, or afterit is positioned thereon. As the article travels onto the lifter tableor after it is positioned thereon, a pair of end tucker members engagethe ends of the wrapper projecting beyond the ends of the loaf of bread,fold the same in against the end of the loaf, and also .partially formthe bottom end flap or the last fold to be made. It so happens thatduring the formation of this last-mentioned flap there is a tendency forthe paper to bow or curl upward towards the ends of the loaf, which bowor curl may result in an imperfectly formed flap as the leaf is movedpast the several folding elements of the machine.

According to my invention I have provided mechanism which takes intoconsideration the fact that articles such as loaves of bread may vary insize and therefore contribute somewhat to the formation of improperfolds and the formation of bowed or curled flap portions as mentionedhereinabove. In order to overcome this difficulty I have providedmechanism which operates on each partially folded bottom end flap andexerts a positive flattening or creasing force thereon in order toprepare such wrapper parts for better folding and thereby prevent theformation of mal-formed and unsatisfactory folds so that the over-allappearance of the package is V much improved.

travel with a lifter table whereby certain of the folding means. such asthe end tuckers whichform the first folds of each package being wrapped;move parallel with and inwardly towards the ends of the article beingwrapped in order to prevent damage to the wrapping material, andgenerally improve the formation of the first end folds.

. My invention also includes an article lifter table having verticallymovable members coacting with the horizontally movable end tuckers. forflattening and creasing portions of the wrap- 1 pers whichconstitutesubsequent end flaps and sitioned to coact with the end folders andcreasers thereby effect the formation of better flaps and more perfectlysealed packages.

It is also an object of my invention to provide improved end folding andcreasing mechanism mounted on a lifter table and operable to form firstend folds and crease other'portions of a wrapper extending beyond theends of an article to be wrapped. My invention also contemplates theprovision of improved stationary folders pocarried by the lifter table,and means for effecting relative movement between the creasers andlifter table for creasing partially formed bottom flaps.

My invention also consists in the provision of end foldersmounted on anarticle conveyor, such as a lifter table, and creaser and wrapperflattening means associated therewith for moving the end folders andcreasing and flattening means in proper timed relation in theformation'oi iniproved packages. I I

It is an added object of my invention to provide stationary and foldersmounted in the path of movement of a lifter table. which foldershavewrapper flap guide means formed on or attached thereto for guiding aportion of the wrapper extending beyond the ends of an article beingwrapped, and coact with end creasing members carried by the lifter tablein guiding unfolded portions of a wrapper and forming better end folds.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, theinvention consists in cer: tain combinations and constructions whichwill be hereinafter fully described, and then set forth in the claimshereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification,and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or likeparts:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the novel end folding mechanismconstituting this invention;'

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same mechanism;

Figure 3 is a partial plan view illustrating the direction of travel ofthe end folders relative to the end of an article;

Figure 4 is a partial sectional end elevation shbwing the relationshipbetween the end folder and the creaser or flattening members;

Figure 5 is apartial perspective view of the same general arrangement asshown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a partial side elevation illustrating a modified form ofdevice for actuating the wrapper fold flattening or creasing members;-and Figure 7 is a plan view of the elevation shown in Figure 6. I

Referring to the drawings which show a preferred embodiment of myinvention, the side frames 28 of the wrapping machine support crossshafts 22, 24 and 28', shaft 22 being suitably driven from the maindrive shaft of the machine (not shown)- Mounted on shaft 22 is a cam 28provided with a track 28 on.which runs a cam follower 38 mounted onlever 32 swingably supported on shaft 24. To one arm of lever 32 ispivotally connected an adjustable rod 34 which in turn is connected at38 to the lifter table 48 swingably mounted on shaft 28 for movementbetween article receiving position, adjacent the infeed guide designatedgenerally 44, and article discharge position adjacent foldway 46. Aninfeed convey or pusher 48 is reciprocated by suitable means (not shown)to feed articles over guide 44 against a wrapper W fed from a suitablesource of supply (not shown) over a guide plate 50 and draped inthe pathof articles to be wrapped. Mechanism for feeding and positioningwrappers in the path of articles moving onto the lifter table 40, andthe infeed pusher may be constructed and operated in the manner shown inthe above referred to Schmitt patent. Since these mechanisms form nospecific part of the invention further description and showing is deemedunnecessary.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the infeed pusher 48 in moving anarticle A and wrapper W onto lifter table 40 causes the wrapper to bepartially encircled about the article with the depending end of thewrapper positioned beneath the article in the usual manner.

The lifter table 48-is provided with a back tension plate designatedgenerally and a top tension plate 41 which may be similar inconstructionand operation to those shown in said Schmitt patent.

As shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and '5, portions of the wrapper extendoutwardly beyond the ends of an article A to be wrapped. The first endfolds-I preferably are made as an article is moved onto lifter table 40.However, if desired these end folds can be made after an article ispositioned thereon. The first end folds are made by means of opposed endfolders54 which are mounted for travel with the lifter table betweenarticle receiving and article discharge positions. Since each of the endfolder units U is identical, but one will be described in detail.

End folders 54 are timed to move towards the ends of an article movingonto the lifter table 40 in such a way that these folders are located inan innermost position above the article A which is fully positioned onlifter table 40. In this way fiat first folds are assured because thewrapper is drawn positively against the ends of the article. Completefolding of the wrapper is accomplished as a result of the lifter tablemoving to discharge position in alignment with foldway 46 and as eachpartially wrapped article is moved from the lifter table by means of oneof a number of flights 52 carried by conveyor 53 of the same type andconstruction, as shown in the above referred to Schmitt patent, overfoldway 46 and past end folders 49 and 5] which make end folds III andIV, respectively.

Each end folder unit U is mounted above the lifter table for movementtherewith between article receiving and discharge positions by means ofa slidable support member carried on shaft 26 and provided with areduced portion 62 in which rides a lug 64 on hub 88 adjustably mountedon right-left hand threaded rod 68 journalled in side frames 20 andprovided with a manually operated knob 69 for adjusting the position ofunits U and folders 54 on the table 48 according to the length ofarticle being Wrapped. Member 68 has a bracket I0 provided with a flatvertical portion I2 angularly inclined with respect to the longitudinalaxis of the machine, and fixed to portion 12 adjacent the top and bottomby screws I4 are opposed gibs 'IG having substantially V-shaped portionsI8 which form guides for a slide 88.

-Secured to slide by screws 82 and mounted for movementtherewith is abracket 84 pivotally connected at 88 to a link 98. Link 90 is alsopivotally connected at 92 to one arm 93 of a bell crank lever 94fulcrumed on a headed stud 96 fast in member 68 (Figure 2). End folders54 are secured to bracket'84 by screws 85. Arm of lever 94 is providedwith a depending pin 98 mounting a cam roller I08 running in a trackformed of two spaced bars I02 secured by screws. I84 to spaced flangesI06 formed in one end of lever I08. Lever I88 is fulcrumed on shaft 28between forks. of lifter table 40. The lifter table and lever I08 aremaintained in operative position on shaft 26 by means of collars 43fixed to shaft 26 (Figure 2).

Lever I08 is also provided 'with a fork III) in which is positioned ashoe I I2 pivotally connected to a stud I I4 fixed in arm I I6 of bellcrank lever II8 mounted on shaft I28 suitably journalled in ribs I2I onthe underside of lifter table 48. Arm

I22 of lever I I8 carries a cam follower I24 tracking a cam 126 keyed atI21 to shaft 22. Cam I26 carries an adjustable plate I28 which by meansof screws I 30 is secured on cam I28 in any desired position to controlthe time at which the end folders move towards the ends of an articlebeing wrapped to make the first folds I. In this way adjustments can bemade in accordance with the width ofarticles being wrapped. Since plateI28 cannot be adjusted beyond the leading end'of cam I26, as seen inFigure 1, the time of opening the folders remains unchanged at alltimes.

It 'follows therefore that while cam follower I24 runs on cam I26, thefolders 54 are held open. However when follower I24 runs off cam I28,spring I32 having one end fastened to pin I34 carried by lifter table 40and its other end conveyor 48 that the folders 54 complete end folds I(Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5) just after an article has been positioned ontable 40. Cam follower I24 is maintained free of contact with cam I26when lifter table 40 is raised. Tension in spring I32 is varied byturning threaded rod I36 relative to nut I38. Arm I I6 of lever I I8 isprovided with an adjustable set screw I40 coacting with a stop lug I42on the underside of lifter table 40 to control the amount of inwardmovement of end folders .54 and creasing and/or flap flattening membersI50 describedin detail hereinbelow.

Mounted exteriorly of and cooperating with end folders 54 are bottom endflap creasing and/or flattening members I50 which assist materially inthe pre-forming of the bottom end flaps IV. These members operate toremove from the partially formed bottom end folds IV, or that portion ofthe wrapper extending outwardly beyond and adjacent the ends of anarticle, bulges, curls or bows, and prevent generally wrinkling orcrushing thereof which might occur otherwise during wrapping operations,especially in machines operating at high speeds. In articles such 'asloaves of bread where there are often some variations in dimensions, andshapes, these members contribute to the solution of the problem ofproperly disposing the projecting ends of wrap- -pers and forming moreuniform end folds. Al-' lug I53 supporting'a pin I54 to which is con-vnected one end of a spring I56, the other end of which is secured to apin I58 also mounted in bracket 84 (Figures 1 and 2). A stop pin I60 inbracket 84 limits upward movement of member I50 under the action ofspring I56. Each creaser or flattener member I50, which is preferablyprovided with a vertical face I62 and a flat face I64 (Figures 1,, 2 and5), is adapted to move to and from the lifter table 40. Each member I50adjacent its free end may also be provided with a cut out portion I55and a substantially vertically extending part I5I, the functions ofwhich are described hereinafter.

It will be evident that due to the mounting of end folder units TI ondiagonally positioned slides 80, each folder 54 is given a straight linemotion towards the ends of each article moving onto the lifter table,and at the same time each end tucker is maintained in a planesubstantially parallel to the planes defining the ends of the articlebeing wrapped. Also each member I50 is located for operation as theresult of the inward travel of slides 80.

After the completion of the first end folds I the lifter table iselevated, and in moving from article receiving to article dischargeposition, the second end folds II are made in the projecting wrapperends adjacent the top of the article by means of stationary folders I66secured by screws I68 to frames I mounted for adjustment to and fromeach other in any well known downwardly projecting wings I61 which coactmanner, such as disclosed in co-pending Jensen application, Serial No.225,697, filed August 19, 1938. As shown, right-handed threaded rods I12journaled in side frames 20 are manually adjustable by hand knob I14 toposition frames I10 and folders I66 properly along foldway 46.

Each of the frames I10} adjacent folders I66 is provided with a bolt I16adjustably secured therein by means of nut I19 and depending therefrominto the path of movement of members I50 (Figure 1). Each bolt I16 hasmounted at its free end a stop, such as a rubber cap I11, which when thelifter table is raised a sumcient distance causes the creaser and/orflat flattening member I50 to be moved downwardly against the tension ofspring I66 towards lifter table 40 in order to flatten and/or creasethat portion of the wrapper extending beneath end folders 54 adjacentthe bottom of the ends of each article being wrapped. In this manner itwill be seen that even though there may be a tendency. during theinitial operation for a portion of the wrapper adjacent the ends of thearticle to bulge, bow or curl upwardly, the action of the members I50flattens and smooths out such bulges, bows and curls and insures theformation of better and more uniform bottom flaps IV so that whenflights 52 move each partially wrapp d article off the 'lifter tableonto foldway 46 and the bottom flaps IV are completed by. stationaryfolders 6|, danger of crumpling or rupture'of the bottom portions of thewrapper is substantially eliminated. Bolts I16 are so adjusted thatmembers I50 in operative position are spaced from lifter table 40 andwrapper portions X (Figures 4 and 5) are loosely held therebetween andfree to move with the article without pulling or twisting or damagethereto as the article is moved onto foldway 46.

In order to insure better disposition of that portion of the wrapperextending downwardly between the lifter table and foldway 46, foldersI66 preferably are provided with outwardly and with vertical portionsI5I 'on members I50. During the upward movement of the lifter table 40relative to stationary folder I 66, wings I61 are accommodated by cutout portions I55 in the members I 50 and the unfolded verticalprojecting portion of the wrapper is guided by the wall I69 of wings I61and portion I5I of creaser members I50. When, therefore, the liftertable reaches the article discharge position in which it is in alignmentwith foldway 46, the first and second end folds I, II have beencompleted, that portion of the bottom flap IV adjacent the first fold isflattened and/or creased, and the article is then transferred by meansof one of the conveyor flights 52 past pivotally mounted, stationaryfolders 49 mounted on frames I10. Folders 49 swing on pivots I in thedirection of travel of the article against the action of springs I BIand form the third fold III, after which the last or bottom flap IV isfolded upwardly against ball headed pin I90 mounted in and projectingfrom lower gib I6. Each ball head forms a ball ends of an article beingwrapped, members I50 are retained in inoperative position -.againststops I60 by springs I56 until slides 80 approach their innermostposition, at this time due to the relative movement of the several partsdescribed hereinabove, levers I98 are rocked on their fulcrums I52thereby causing set screws 202 to engage abutments 2M and move membersI50 into engagement with wrapper portions X which extend outwardlybeyond the ends of the article beneath folders 54 (Figures 4 and 5). Setscrews 202 are so adjusted that members I50 operate at substantially thesame time that end folds I are completed and members I50 are moved intosuch operative position relative to lifter table 40 that wrapperportions X therebeneath are free to slide therefrom when a partiallywrapped article ismoved from table 40 onto foldway 46.

The invention above described may be varied in construction within thescope of the claims, for the particular device, selected to illustratethe invention, is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of thesame, It is not, therefore, to be restricted to the precise details ofthe structure shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a wrapping machine, a lifter table constructed and arranged toreceive a partially wrapped article having end portions of the wrapperextending beyond the ends of said article, and deliver the same to adischarge position, end tuckers carried by gaid lifter table, means formoving said tuckers into folding engagement with portions of saidprojecting wrapper to form end tucks and partially form other flapsextending beyond the ends of said article adjacent said table, flapflattening members located adjacent said tuckers, and means for movingsaid members towards said table for flattening said partially formedflaps against said table.

2. In a wrapping machine, a lifter table constructed and arranged toreceive a partially wrapped article with end portions of the wrapperextending beyond the ends of said article, means for moving said tableto deliver said partially wrapped article to a discharge position, endtuckers carried by said table, means for moving said tuckers intoengagement with portions of said wrapper to form end flaps therein, flapcreasing members also carried by said table, and means for effectingrelative movement between said members and table to crease and flattenother portions of said wrapper ends.

3. In a wrapping machine having a lifter table, and an infeed'conveyorfor moving an article against a draped wrapper onto said table andpositioning said article on said table with said wrapper partiallyencircling said article with portions of said wrapper extending unfoldedbeyond the ends of said article, opposed end folders mounted on saidtable, means for moving said folders towards the ends of said article tofold a portion of said extending wrapper portions against each end ofsaid article, means for moving said table and delivering said partiallywrapped article to discharge position, spaced folders located to engageother portions of said wrapper and fold the same against the ends ofsaid article during the movement of said table, end creasers carried bysaid table, and means operative during the movement of said table formoving said creasers towards said table to flatten and crease otherparts of said extending wrapper portions.

4. In a wrapping machine having a lifter table, and an infeed conveyorfor moving an article against a draped Wrapper onto said table andpositioning said article on said table with said wrapper partiallyencircling said article with portions of said wrapper extending unfoldedbeyond the ends of said article, opposed end folders mounted on saidtable, means for moving said folders towards the ends of said article tofold a portion of said extending wrapper portions against each end ofsaid article, means for moving said table and delivering said partiallywrapped article to dischargeposition,spaced folders located to engageother portions of said wrapper and fold the same against the ends ofsaid article during the movement of said table, wrapper creasing memberslocated adjacent said end folders and coacting therewith, means mountingsaid members for movement towards said table, means carried by saidspaced folders for effecting movement of said members towards said tableas said table is moved to delivery position, and guide means on saidmembers coacting with said guide means on said stationary folders forcontrolling the disposition of part of the unfolded portion of thewrapper extending beyond the ends of said article.

5. In a Wrapping'machin having a lifter table, and an infeed conveyorfor moving an article against a draped wrapper onto said table andpositioning said article on said table with said Wrapper partiallyencircling said article with portions of said wrapper extending unfoldedbeyond the ends of said article, opposed end folders mounted on saidtable, means for moving said folders towards the end of said article tofold a portion of said extending wrapper portions against each end ofsaid article, means for moving said table and delivering said partiallywrapped article to discharge position, spaced folders located to engageother portions of said wrapper and fold the same against the ends ofsaid article during the movement of said table, pivoted wrapper creasingmembers carried by said table, means normally holding said members ininoperative position away from said table, and means for swinging saidmembers downwardly into operative position relative to said table.

6. In a wrapping machine having a lifter table, and an infeed conveyorfor moving an article against a draped wrapper onto said table andpositioning said article on said table with said wrapper partiallyencircling said article with portions of said wrapper extending unfoldedbeyond the ends of said article, opposed end folders mounted on saidtable, means for moving said folders towards the ends of said article tofold a portion of said extending'wrapper portions against each end ofsaid article, means for moving said table and delivering said partiallywrapped article to discharge position, spaced folders wrapper partially.encircling said article, and por-- tions of said wrapper extendingunfolded beyond the ends of said article, opposed end folders mounted onsaid table, means for moving said folders to and from said article forforming end folds, creasers having flat wrapper engaging faces providedwith openings therein adjacent one end movably mounted on said tableadjacent said folders, stationary folders mounted in the path ofmovement of said article as said table is moved to a delivery position,and wrapper guide means on said stationary folders projecting outwardlytherefrom'constructed and arranged to coact with said openings in saidcreasers in guiding and creasing parts of said wrapper.

8. In a wrapping machine having a lifter table, and an infeed conveyorfor moving anarticle against a draped wrapper onto said table andpositioning said article on said table with said wrapper partiallyencirclingsaid article and portions of said wrapper extending unfoldedbeyond the ends of said article, means for moving said table and saidpartially wrapped article to a discharge position, opposed end folderscarried by said table, creasers movably mounted on said table, meanslocating said creasers adjacent said folders, stationary folders mountedin the path of movement of said article as said table is moved positionto partially encircle said article and provide extending wrapperportions for folding against the ends of said article, opposed endfolders, means mounting said folders on said table adjacent the ends ofsaid article, means for moving said folders to engage and fold portionsof said wrapper against the ends of said article, stationary foldersmounted in the path of travel of said table adaptedto form other foldsin.

said wrapper upon the ends of said article during the travel of saidtable from receiving to discharge position, wrapper creasing and foldflattening members carried by said table and mounted for movement withsaid folders to and from the ends of said article, and means foreffecting relative movement between said lastnamed folders and membersto flatten and crease portions of the wrapper extending beyond the endsof said article adjacent said-table.

10. In a wrapping machine having an article lifter table, and means forpositioning a partially wrapped article thereon with portions of saidwrapper extending beyond the ends of said article, endfolders carried bysaid table, means for moving said folders into engagement with portionsof said wrapper to form end tucks therein, and flap creasing memberscarried by said table and movable relative to said tuckers and table forcreasing portions of said wrapper extending outwardly beneath saidtuckers.

11. In a wrapping machine having an article lifter table, and means forpositioning a partially wrapped article thereon with portions of thewrapper extending beyond the ends of said article, opposed end folderscarried by said table, supports for said folders, said supportsincluding spaced brackets and means mounted on said brackets for movingsaid folders with a straight line motion in one plane while maintainingsaid folders at all times substantially parallel to the ends of saidarticle, end creasers also carried by said table, means mounting saidcreasers adjacent and exteriorly of said end folders, and means foreffecting movement of said creasers towards said table in a planesubstantially at right angles to the path of movement of said endfolders.

12. In a wrapping machine having an article lifter table, and means forpositioning a partially wrapped article thereon with portions of thewrapper extending beyond the ends of said article,-end folders carriedby said table, means for moving said folders into engagement withportions of said wrapper to form end folds therein,

.fiap creasers mounted adjacent and exteriorly of said folders, andmeans operative after said folders have formed said end folds foreffective relative movement between said table and creasers for creasingother portions of the wrapper.

13. In a wrapping machine, a lifter table constructedand arranged tosupport .a partially wrapped article, opposed end folders mounted onsaid table, and mechanism for moving saidfolders with a straight linemotion to and from a folding position relative to the ends of saidarticle, said mechanism including means for maintaining said tuckerssubstantially parallel to the ends of said article during the operationof said mechanism.

14. In a wrapping machine, a lifter table constructed and arranged tosupport a partially wrapped article, opposed end folders mounted on saidtable, mechanism for moving said folders with a straight line motion toand from a folding position relative to the ends of said article, saidmechanism including means for maintaining said tuckers substantiallyparallel to the ends of said article during the operation of saidmechanism, wrapper creasing members also mounted on said table, andmeans operative after the operation of said folders for moving saidmembers towards said table to crease portions of said wrapper extendingoutwardly from said article beneath said end folders.

15. In a wrapping machine, a lifter table constructed and arranged tosupport a partially wrapped article, opposed end folders mounted on saidtable, mechanism for moving said folders into and out of foldingposition relative to the ends of said article, members provided withflat creas-.

ing faces mounted on said table, means for posicle on said table forforming folds in other portions of said wrapper, wrapper guide membersmounted on said stationary folders and projecting outwardly therefrom,wrapper flattening and creasing devices having fiat wrapper engagingfaces provided with an opening permitting relative movement between saidmembers and said devices mounted on said table, and means for movingsaid devices verticaly to and from said table.

17. In a wrapping machine, a lifter table movable to and from an articlereceiving and an article delivery position, and constructed and arrangedto support a partially wrapped article, opposed end folders mounted onsaid table, mechanism for moving said folders with a straight linemotion to and from folding position relative to the ends of saidarticle, said mechanism includstructed and arranged to support anarticle partially encircled in a wrapper, said wrapper having endsprojecting beyond the ends of said article, folder support bracketsmounted on said table, end folders mounted on said brackets, means formoving said folders with a straight line movement into engagement withsaid projecting wrapper ends to form and folds in portions of saidwrapper, creaser members movably ing means for maintaining said tuckersat all 7 times substantially parallel to the ends of said article,stationary folders mounted in the path of movement of said articles onsaid table for forming other folds in portions of said wrapper, andguide members on said stationary folders for guiding portions of saidwrapper remaining unfolded.

18. In a wrapping machine, a lifter table constructed and arranged tosupport a partially wrapped loaf of bread having a wrapper partiallyencircled thereabout with end portions of the wrapper extending beyondthe ends of said load, opposed end tuckers, supports for said tuck ersmounted on said table, flap creasing means mounted on said supports, andmeans operating in timed relation to the movement of said tuckers forefiecting relative movement between said creasing means to and from saidtable.

19. In a wrapping machine, a conveyor for an article to be wrapped saidconveyor having an article supporting surface means for moving anarticle against a wrapper positioned in the path of travel of saidarticle to thereby partially enclose said article in said wrapper, anddepositing said partially wrapped article on said article supportingsurface of said conveyor means for moving said conveyor between articlereceiving and delivery positions, opposed end folders, means mountingsaid folders on said conveyor for movement therewith, and means formoving said folders with a straight line movement above said supportingsurface into and out of engagement with portions of said wrapperextending beyond the endsof said article to form end folds therein.

20. In a wrapping machine, a conveyor for an article to be wrapped, saidconveyor having an article supporting surface, means for moving anarticle against a wrapper positioned in the path of travel of saidarticle to thereby partially enclose said article in said wrapper, anddepositing said partially wrapped article on said article supportingsurface of said conveyor, means for moving said conveyor between articlereceiving and delivery positions, opposed end folders, means mountingsaid folders on said conveyor for movement therewith, means for movingsaid folders with a straight line movement above said supporting surfaceinto and out of engagement with portions of said wrapper extendingbeyond the ends of said article to form end folds therein, and mean foradjusting said folders to and from each other.

21. In a wrapping machine, a lifter table conmounted on said brackets,and means operative after the formation of said end folds and while saidend folders are proximate the ends of said article for operating saidmembers to flatten and crease other portions of said wrapper.

22. In a wrapping machine, a lifter table constructed and arranged tosupport an article partially encircled with a wrapper having endportions thereof extending beyond the ends of said article, bracketsmounted on said table, a guide on each of said brackets, a slide on eachof said guides, a folder bracket on each of said slides, an end foldermounted on each of said folder brackets, and means for moving saidslides to cause said folders to move into and out of folding engagementwith said wrapper ends and form end tucks therein.

23. In a wrapping machine, a litter table constructed and arranged tosupport an article partially encircled with a wrapper having endportions thereof extending beyond the ends of said article,'-bracketsmounted on said table, a guide on each of said brackets, a slide on eachof said guides, a folder bracket on each of said slides, an end foldermounted on each of said folder brackets, means for moving said slides tocause said folder to move into and out of folding engagement with saidwrapper ends and form end tucks therein, a creaser movably mounted oneach of said folder brackets, andmeans for moving said creasers to andfrom said table to crease portions of the wrapper located therebeneath.

24. In a wrapping machine having a lifter table, and an infeed conveyorfor moving an article against a draped wrapper onto said lifter tableand positioning said article on said table with said wrapper partiallyencircled about said article with portions of said wrapper extendingunfolded beyond the ends of said article, opposed end folders mounted onsaid table, means for moving said folders against said extending wrapperportion to form end folds therein, and independently movable means alsocarried by said table and movable with said end folders for flatteningother portions of said wrapper projecting beneath said end folders andoutwardly beyond the end of said article.

25. In a wrapping machine having a lifter table, and an infeed conveyorfor moving an article against a draped wrapper onto said lifter tableand positioning said article on said table with said wrapper partiallyencircled about said article with portions of said wrapper extendingunfolded beyond the end of said article, opposed end folders mounted onsaid table, means for moving said folders against said extending wrapperportion to form end folds therein, creasers located adjacent saidfolders and movable therewith, means for moving said lifter table to aposition of article discharge, means for moving said creasers intowrapper creasing relation with said table, yieldingly mounted pivotedfolders adjacent said discharge position, and means carried by andassociated with said folders for ironing down a portion of the unfoldedwrapper.

1 CHARLES ARELT.

